‘Whistleblower’ Rashid Latif appointed new Pak chief selector

Johannesburg, Feb 27: Former Pakistani Test captain Rashid Latif has reportedly been appointed as the chief selector of the Pakistan national cricket team and also tasked with helping in the fight against corruption.

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The whistleblowing former player, who played 37 Tests and 166 ODIs for Pakistan as a wicketkeeper-batsman, is known for taking a stand against match-fixing, which has dogged cricket in Pakistan over the years.

According to Sport24, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release stated that Latif would become the chief selector with effect from April1 to fill the vacancy after the appointment of another former captain, Aamir Sohail, was cancelled by the new PCB chairman Najam Sethi earlier this month.

The statement further said that Latif would also assist in giving training and lectures on anti-corruption matters and the former captain expressed excitement at the challenge, saying that he will endeavour to build a strong team, keeping in view the 2015 World Cup.

Latif, who famously blew the whistle on his teammates in 1994, also said that he would assist the board in anti-corruption matters.

Latif’s stance on corruption forced the government to initiate an inquiry into match-fixing, which resulted in a life ban for former captain Salim Malik and fines for Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq and Saeed Anwar, the report added. (ANI)